Apr 9, 2023·edited Apr 10, 2023Liked by Gabe Ibrahim
If the Lynx do draft Miller, after investing $135,000 of their scarce cap room in signing a shooting guard like Tiffany Mitchell, then they definitely need help at the PG position, which is currently occupied only by Lindsay Allen (who has never averaged more than 17.8 minutes per game in any season that she’s played in the W) and Rachel Banham (who has never averaged even that many minutes and played many of her minutes at SG). I suppose Tsineke is a possibility, though I would expect Berger, if she is still available.
In order to sign Tsineke/Berger, they will have to cut either Allen or Banham to create the necessary cap room and then resign whichever player was cut, either Allen or Banham, using the special “hardship” exception that they’ll receive based on Achonwa’s pregnancy. (If you assume that Allen, Banham, Shephard, Dantas and Milic are all on the final roster, then the Lynx, without the use of this special “hardship” exception, only have the cap room to sign the number two pick, and no other draftee.). After drafting Miller and a PG prospect to sign using the “hardship” exception, the Lynx will then have to take a deferral pick with their selection at 16—probably Maia Hirsch, Stephanie Soares, or the Australian prospect, Shaneice Swain, whoever is still available at 16.
Actually, a few weeks earlier, shortly after the signing of Tiffany Mitchell, I was pretty convinced that the Lynx were going to draft Haley Jones, not Diamond Miller, with the number two pick, so that she could operate as sort of a point forward—a player guarding the 3 on defense, but rotating up from the baseline to direct the offense on the opposite side of the court. This would allow the Lynx to play Mitchell and McBride together in the backcourt, while still having someone on the court who was capable of running the offense. (With the amount of money that Mitchell was signed for, I figured that she wasn’t signed merely to back McBride up at the 2.)
If the Lynx are still interested in Jones (and I’m not sure that they are), then look for them to trade down. Perhaps it might make sense to flip picks with Dallas, the 2 for the 3, if they could also pick up Dallas’ second round picks in 2024 and 2025. With Rickea Jackson, Jacy Sheldon, Celeste Taylor, Aijha Blackwell, Elizabeth Kitley, Endyia Rogers, Dyaisha Fair, Charisma Osborne, Taiyanna Jackson, Hannah Jump, Ashley Owusu, and even MacKenzie Holmes all returning to school, a mid second round pick could be rather useful in 2024 and 2025, especially given the players who were already scheduled to graduate with those classes. And does Dallas really need to retain seven first rounders and three second round picks over the next three drafts?
Jordan Horston is a wasted 1st round pick. Maybe a 2nd rounder. And IMO, not WNBA material - would not be surprised that whomever drafts her, cuts her. Dorka Juhasz will a desired player at 6'5", solid rebounder and shot blocker who can shoot the 3.
If the Lynx do draft Miller, after investing $135,000 of their scarce cap room in signing a shooting guard like Tiffany Mitchell, then they definitely need help at the PG position, which is currently occupied only by Lindsay Allen (who has never averaged more than 17.8 minutes per game in any season that she’s played in the W) and Rachel Banham (who has never averaged even that many minutes and played many of her minutes at SG). I suppose Tsineke is a possibility, though I would expect Berger, if she is still available.
In order to sign Tsineke/Berger, they will have to cut either Allen or Banham to create the necessary cap room and then resign whichever player was cut, either Allen or Banham, using the special “hardship” exception that they’ll receive based on Achonwa’s pregnancy. (If you assume that Allen, Banham, Shephard, Dantas and Milic are all on the final roster, then the Lynx, without the use of this special “hardship” exception, only have the cap room to sign the number two pick, and no other draftee.). After drafting Miller and a PG prospect to sign using the “hardship” exception, the Lynx will then have to take a deferral pick with their selection at 16—probably Maia Hirsch, Stephanie Soares, or the Australian prospect, Shaneice Swain, whoever is still available at 16.
Actually, a few weeks earlier, shortly after the signing of Tiffany Mitchell, I was pretty convinced that the Lynx were going to draft Haley Jones, not Diamond Miller, with the number two pick, so that she could operate as sort of a point forward—a player guarding the 3 on defense, but rotating up from the baseline to direct the offense on the opposite side of the court. This would allow the Lynx to play Mitchell and McBride together in the backcourt, while still having someone on the court who was capable of running the offense. (With the amount of money that Mitchell was signed for, I figured that she wasn’t signed merely to back McBride up at the 2.)
If the Lynx are still interested in Jones (and I’m not sure that they are), then look for them to trade down. Perhaps it might make sense to flip picks with Dallas, the 2 for the 3, if they could also pick up Dallas’ second round picks in 2024 and 2025. With Rickea Jackson, Jacy Sheldon, Celeste Taylor, Aijha Blackwell, Elizabeth Kitley, Endyia Rogers, Dyaisha Fair, Charisma Osborne, Taiyanna Jackson, Hannah Jump, Ashley Owusu, and even MacKenzie Holmes all returning to school, a mid second round pick could be rather useful in 2024 and 2025, especially given the players who were already scheduled to graduate with those classes. And does Dallas really need to retain seven first rounders and three second round picks over the next three drafts?
Jordan Horston is a wasted 1st round pick. Maybe a 2nd rounder. And IMO, not WNBA material - would not be surprised that whomever drafts her, cuts her. Dorka Juhasz will a desired player at 6'5", solid rebounder and shot blocker who can shoot the 3.